BsAs

Two days is long enough to get the main sites in Buenas Aires and not nearly long enough to enjoy. I found it a fascinating city - actually quite quiet at this time of year - and a great city to wander around. Being flat it is very walkable, and a city on a grid it is easy to get around without confusion.
My very dear friend Gustavo gave me a list of things to do and marked up a map so that when I arrived I had no problems getting around - and we realised my hotel was very central which was perfect. Everything within walking distance.
The city is arranged around two major streets - the multi laned Avenida 9 de Julio (the widest street in the world) runs north-south and Avenida de Mayo runs east-west. At the junction of both is the huge white Obelisco which rivals the Washington monument in Washington DC. I saw it best at night.
Highlights for me were the Cathedral (looks more like the Pantheon from the outside, something I rather liked), Cabildo (the original town hall where the public meeting to consider independence from Spain took place 25 May 1810) both of which sit on the edge of Paza de Mayo at the west end and form a counter-point to the grand Casa Rosada, the President´s residence which is as impressive as Buckingham Palace and rather better than the White House. On the river side (to the east) is an enormous and flamboyant statue with Cristóbal Colón (Columbus) on top. The giant flag of Argentina waves impressively in the light breeze.
I walked and walked - went up to Palermo Soho, now a rising bohemian area, wandered on Sunday morning to Recoleta and paid homage at the Mausoleum of Evita, sauntered through the huge flea market of San Telmo (after lunch with Jamie Taylor, an old friend and former colleague at GMFA in London). This is truly a bargain hunters paradise - I have not seen so many old bits and pieces for ages, and in good nick too - a market stall with several wind-up gramaphone players with those big ¨His Masters´Voice¨ horns. And heaps and heaps of Mate pots. I did not get to try this Argentine drink as apparently you have to have your own Mate pot.
And finally yesterday afternoon I was taken to the large park and wild area formed by land-fill when the Motorway destroyed several suburbs. This landfill has created an wildlife reservation between the city and the Rio de la Plata and is very popular at the weekend. The beach on the river is actually made up of building rubble....which is different.
So thank you Jamie and Pedro for yesterday .... thank you Juan for welcoming me on my first night in Beunos Aires for a memorable visit - and most of all thanks to Gustavo for his advice .....
Next time I go I shall have learnt some spanish though.... Gusty please help !
photos are here : http://picasaweb.google.com/Stephen.Couling/WanderingAlbatross?authkey=G8b4gDJV2o0&feat=directlink